CPEC to alter dynamics of trade, development and bring economic cohesion in the region: Pervez Khattak

PESHAWAR, May 18: The Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pervez Khattak has said CPEC has the potential to radically alter the regional dynamics of trade, development and politics and can bring greater economic cohesion in South Asian region. He was addressing at policy dialogue on energy in context with CPEC here on Wednesday arranged by US Pakistan Centre for Advanced Studies in Energy at the University of Engineering and Technology.
The Chief Minister said that the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was committed to promote quality higher education and applied research to provide a platform for the young graduates to find suitable jobs at the national and international levels. “52 per cent of our population under 30 years of age and by turning this huge number into a skilled and educated force, the destiny of Pakistan can be changed”, he remarked. The present government was committed to bring in changes in the lives of common people. He said that Chinese officials was describing the corridor as the “flagship project” of a broader policy to connect China to its markets in Asia, Europe and beyond. “One Belt, One Road is a brilliant geostrategic programme of China and CPEC is a crucial part of this programme” he maintained. He informed that CPEC was a veritable national project that involved the whole of Pakistan for the benefit of all the peoples of Pakistan without exception. The Chief Minister remarked that the vision of CPEC has to be the enhancement of Pakistan’s competitiveness and providing of regional trade and cooperation opportunities by the improvement of national trade and transport logistics to international standards. He suggested that CPEC could not be reduced to one route in isolation but to consist of a well-knit system of routes for maximal regional integration. He added that in this regard all routes had to be developed as it were of equal importance.
He stressed the need of making CPEC projects publicly available so that CPEC-related changes in the total debt of Pakistan could be properly studied and correct policy recommendations could be derived to ease the debt burden.
Vice Chancellors, UET, Dr. Iftikhar Hussain, Vice Chancellor Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University Dr. Razia Sultana, academicians, Researchers and students attended the seminar. Senator Usman Saifullah, Dr. Mohammad Bilal Khan, Dr. NajibUllah and Abbass Khan addressed the seminar.-PR